Kabul: The World Bank on Tuesday has said that Afghanistan will need roughly $7 billion a year from the international community to help pay its security and other bills long after foreign troops leave.
This is under a “cautiously optimistic” scenario where agriculture becomes more efficient, a large copper mine and another large iron ore mine are opened on schedule, taxes increase and security does not get any worse.
The World Bank forecasts that with firm economic growth the gap will still average around $7 billion a year after 2014.
Asking the government in Kabul to tighten its belt by cutting spending on security forces risks. If services like health and education are reduced instead, that could damage growth and indirectly bolster support for the insurgency.
Urging the Afghan government to increase taxes is not an option either, as the mismatch between the size of the economy and the scale of the problems is simply too large.
“If these levels of foreign assistance…are not forthcoming, then the government of Afghanistan will need to make extremely difficult and possibly destabilizing trade-offs,” the report said.
“Either grossly underfunding or significantly shrinking Afghan security forces, or crowding out essential civilian spending, or both.”
Dear TNT Reader,
At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.
Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.
But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.
Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.
Donate Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription